A26921:888
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and the latter times of his corporal pains and weakness.
London: printed by Tho. Snowden for B. Simmons, 1683
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
but when the trial comes (as they after in his suffering forsook him and fled,) how insufficient is my own strength to perform my promise? When he imposeth on me, the denying of my self, forsaking all, and taking up the Cross and following him, I yielded and covenanted by Vow to do it: but it was, By the help of the Holy Spirit which he promised to give me. I stand, Lord, to my Covenant: Help me to perform it; and give me, though not his present sight, yet some of Peter's Mental apprehensions, and a glimpse, a taste of that which transported him with delight. Let who will (or who Thou wilt) take the Riches, and Grandeur of the World: O give me some delightful taste of that which I am made for, redeemed for, and which thy Spirit hath long taught me, to seek and hope for, as my All.
§ 25. Peter was not weary with the sight of this heavenly Apparition: Why should I be weary of the believing contemplation of greater things? Though ⟨p. 336⟩sight affect us more sensibly than mere believing and thinking, yet these have their happy Office, which may be effectual: And Christ who thus appeared in Glory to Peter, hath said, Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed: And Peter himself saith of them that see not Christ, that They rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of Glory, in believing. Oh how unexcusable am I for every weary Prayer or Meditation of such a Glory? and for yielding to Satan and a backward Heart, which have oft made me shorten these sweet employments, when I had time, and leave, and need to lengthen them: What! aweary of communion with Christ! Aweary of speaking to my heavenly Father, for endless Blessedness, upon such joyful terms of Hope as he hath given me? Aweary of the Thoughts of the City of God, the heavenly Society and Work? Aweary of exciting Divine Love, and exercising it in Divine Praise, which are the works of Angels, and all the heavenly Host? O how justly might God be as it were aweary of me, and of my weary Services; yea, of the best that I can offer him, which hath in it so much to give him cause?
§ 25. Peter was not weary with the sight of this heavenly Apparition: Why should I be weary of the believing contemplation of greater things? Though